Four Cent Rate?

This cover was mailed 1861 or before, most likely. So we all agree that it is the 3 cents plus the 1 cent courier? (I guess the sender assumed the receiving postmaster would notice the 4 cents and also know where to deliver the letter?) From what I can research, Wolcottville (now Torrington) had less than 3,000 people.

I did a power search on Siegel Auction for #24 and carrier. I found the following. They quote "scare carrier use" - so I guess we are right, and also explains why most of us have never seen one before! Thanks for all the help.

Unlike now, then everyone knew everyone... especially local postmasters

Quite a bit of what has been said so far is not correct. The 3c stamp pays the standard letter fee and the 1c stamp pays the "to the mails" fee. Fees for delivery were never prepaid nor were they paid for with stamps, they were collected in cash. So, this cover was picked up by a mail carrier at the cost of 1c. The 3c paid for the letter to be taken to Wolcottville, CT.

doug2222, You need to pay more attention, I sold two Civil War Patriotic carrier covers on ebay last year. Carrier covers are not that common because not many cities had a carrier department.

that explains a lot and makes a lot more sense - thanks sinclair2010

Boy! You guys are truly postal historians. My hat off to all the contributors. I am a new member here at SCF and you have gained my sincere respect.

Here is a matching cover. Anyone care to speculate/explain why it has both the carrier 1 cent plus the "Due 1"?

Whoa! I love this thread. re-visit?

Doug,

The 4 cent rate was fairly common, though more interesting. I have combination covers using 24/25, 24/26, 20/25, 24x4, 9x4 on 3 dzn covers in my collection.

Art

I'll re-visit the addressee of the cover, Henri Migeon of Wolcottville, Connecticut.

As you will recall, I posted early on this thread an extensive biography of the man, but it's always interesting to put a photo (in this case an engraving) with the cover, so here it is: